rance of a Sarkian harem. Although there were only five of the Alexander family present, there were at least twenty Lani whose costumes ranged from the black G s

e women who could be any age from fifty to three hundred, and a girl. She might have been thirty-perhaps younger, perhaps older, a lean feminine edition of Alexander, with the same

she collects men. The other man is Douglas's father, Henry. The plump redhead beside him is his wife, Ann

e?" Kennon

plied. "He was kille

Kennon was beginning to feel more at ease until Eloise sent one of her Lani with a summons. He looked around for Alexander, but the entrepreneur was the center of a three-corne

tell your mistress I'll

oman Eloise says for you to come, and sh

table and examined it, selecting a cluster of odd purple fruit which looked more intere

by my employees," she said coldly. Her dark eyes, oddly li

peeper rider on my contract." His eyes traveled slowly over her carefully arranged hair, her make-up, her jewelry at throat and arms, her painted

ied?" s

you for a parasite camp. Six months of hard labor would d

. "Why, you-"

continued imperturbably. "After all, the superficial att

"You bite, don't you?" she aske

sha

ctions weren't goo

hat I'm not. I'm the son of a spaceship sk

ce was sober, "It's been some time since I'v

s your

ing machine. Come-sit b

ut w

b, your life-an

t exactly new,"

dmitted, "but i

imm

yes were frankly appraising. "I thi

ink I would have time to give

bably wouldn't be long befo

not, I can't afford

em conf

et. I was

a reputation, eh?

e first officer of-" she let the thought di

"I've never had

e to make the acid

e said. "But

ning. He never stays more than a few hours." El

e she had enough money to implement her desires. They were merely in the trade for business reasons. No-Eloise would be something to steer clear of. Alexander was right.

. "You can al

I would be a poor employee if I delayed him." He grinned kno

your business done. Yo

open window that led to a balcony. "

der agreed. "I suspect t

ou should know. Let's get out of here. I've

rs. Maybe Old Doc left a bottle or two, although I susp

atives as a steady diet, I can't s

a point." The two men slipped quietly from the room. Apparently none of the Family was conscious of t

It was a beautiful night, calm and clear with the stars shining down from the dark vault of the heavens. The constellations were strange, and

leepily from one of the fortress turrets and was answered by some creature Kennon couldn't identify. A murmur of blended sound came from the valley below, punctuated by high-pitched laughter. Someone was singing, or perhaps chanting woul

emarked as they rounded anoth

for that generator. It's almost as though we shut th

id. "But doors that can be closed can also

g I don't have to ent

worry about her. She's

o frankly predatory," Ken

exander said with mock comfort. "Douglas is on the O

staying,

afraid I

hole thing has been something of a shock. I

he's more qualified than I. He knows everything worth knowing about this p

pretty

stic-a nocturnal. He's pro

shouldn't

to it. I visit him

you're t

the left and climbed a short flight of stairs that led to the nearest house. Lights flared on the deep porc

id. "I was expecting you.

Alexander said. "Yes, this is Dr. Kennon

ypical thickness and pore prominence of the dwellers on that foggy world from which he came. But unlike the natives of Myst, his skin was burned a dark brown by

th Jordan," Blalok said as he ushered them into the

Alexander said, "and meet Dr. Kennon-Ste

as Alexander continued, "What

three more that look pretty bad, jaundice, no appetite, complaining of muscular pains. Same symptoms

es in this one sta

it's wor

sses like that,"

o I," Jord

alok said quickly. "As you know, we

exander c

before he died," Blalok said. "As a result w

ked at Kennon, a trace of amusement on his face.

them stone cold," Kennon added. "I

o wait," Jordan sa

one," Kennon replied. "

n said. "They're in the ho

mortem might give us an ans

you," Jor

exander said. "I h

if it's necessa

ere, Old Doc traine

n't be necessar

lexander. "We could check the records whi

xander replied. "What with the Family and t

ad a weak spot. He was squeamis